Deep Roots is proud to announce that we have been honored with the prestigious Garden Club of America Conservation Commendation, a national recognition celebrating our commitment to environmental stewardship and conservation leadership. Marilyn Donahue, GCA President writes, “For more than 106 years, a priority of the Garden Club of America has been to recognize and encourage those who have made – and are making – exceptional contributions. You are one of those.”
The Westport Garden Club nominated Deep Roots for this significant recognition. In February of 2014, the Westport Garden Club hosted Doug Ladd as a guest speaker at their monthly meeting. At the time, Ladd was the conservation director for The Nature Conservancy in Missouri. Doug spoke of the state of the tallgrass prairie as the most threatened, yet least conserved of the world’s ecosystems. He impressed upon the group the importance of saving this precious resource, and the species that rely on it in the process. The members were so inspired by Doug’s program that a club task force was organized to ‘be pollinators’ for native plants in Kansas City. In turn, the Westport Garden Club convened the Kansas City Native Plant Initiative, which grew into Deep Roots KC.
The Westport Garden Club’s nomination emphasized Deep Roots’ programs and our impact on our region. From virtual webinars to in-person workshops, from our Plan It Native conference to hands-on learning, more and more people are engaged with Deep Roots and choosing native plants. Deep Roots program participants have planted more than half-a-million native plants since 2022.
This award, presented by the Westport Garden Club, recognizes our ongoing efforts to rebuild urban habitats, foster ecological education, and inspire sustainable practices within our community. We are deeply grateful for this acknowledgment and energized to continue advancing our mission for a healthier, more resilient environment. Thanks to the inspiration of the Westport Garden Club and their vision for more resilient landscapes in our community, Deep Roots is having an impact, and birds and bees are rejoicing.
